Thought the tax season is over, tax scammers work year-round. Stay alert to protect yourself against new ways criminals pose as the IRS to trick you out of your money or personal information. These scams first tried to sting older American's newly arrived immigrants and those who speak English as a second language. The crooks have expanded their net, and now try to swindle virtually anyone. Here are several tips from the IRS to help you avoid being a victim of these scams:

Scams use scare tactics. These aggressive and sophisticated scams try to scare people into making a false tax payment that ends up with the criminal. Many phone scams use threats to try to intimidate you so you will pay them your money. they often threaten arrest or deportation, or that they will revoke your license if you don't pay. They may also leave "urgen" callback requests, sometimes through "robo-calls," via phone or eMail. The eMails will often contain a fake IRS document with a phone number an an eMail address for your reply.

Scams use called ID spoofing. Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legit. They may use online resources to get your names, address and other details about your life to make the call sound official.

Scams use phishing eMail and regular mail. Scammers copy official IRS letterhead to use in eMail or regular mail they send to victims. In another new variation, schemers provide an actual IRS address where they tell the victim to mail a receipt for the payment they make. All in an attempt to make the scheme look official.

The real IRS will not:

Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount that you owe.

Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.

Ask for credit or debit car numbers over the phone.

Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

If you don't owe taxes (or even if you do) or you have no reason to think that you do:

Do not provide any information to the caller. Call the IRS directly (800) 829-1040 to see if a call was made

Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).